Hsinchu City’s Pilot Electric Buses Delivered on Schedule and Expected to Operate on the Road by the End of the Year; Acting Mayor Chiu Chen-Yuan: Accelerating the Realization of Low-Carbon, Livable City
The Hsinchu City Government is gradually replacing old buses, introducing new electric buses, and promoting the city’s first “Pilot Bus” route, operated entirely by electric buses. The route operation has been awarded to Kuo-Kuang Motor Transportation Company Ltd. Following the delivery of two buses in September, eight more were delivered today (November 4). Acting Mayor Chiu Chen-Yuan made a special visit to the Shulintou Parking Lot to conduct a final inspection of the electric buses that will soon be on the road. He stated that Hsinchu City’s policy of promoting all-electric buses not only improves the quality of public transportation services in the city, but also takes an important step in realizing the goal of a low-carbon, green-energy city.
Acting Mayor Chiu said that since Mayor Kao Hung-An took office, she has made a municipal blueprint to push the development of public transportation, which includes increasing the number of low-floor buses year by year, building bus shelters to enhance the waiting environment, promoting pilot buses, building smart bus stops, reviewing the reasonable operating costs of buses, and optimizing the “iBus_Hsinchu City” App. The city also successfully fought for a discounted monthly commuter pass policy for the Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County region to encourage more people to use public transportation. The government will continue supporting bus companies in replacing old vehicles, applying for subsidies from the central government, and working toward the goal of fully electrifying the city’s buses by 2030 to implement the policy of “Smooth Transportation, Livability and Sustainability.”
The Department of Transportation pointed out that Hsinchu City will continue to promote the full electrification of buses to provide the public with a comfortable commuting environment with zero carbon emissions and low noise. In addition to fighting for central subsidies, the city government has raised the reasonable operating cost per kilometer since January this year, setting the cost per kilometer for electric buses at NT$62.519 to reflect the costs of vehicle purchases, charging equipment, and maintenance and management. This increase aims to encourage companies to accelerate the replacement of electric buses and lay a solid foundation for the full electrification of urban buses by 2030.
Sources: Hsinchu City Government
